Scholarships Available from New CFGNB Fund in Memory of Beloved Pastor

New Britain, Conn., April 26, 2022 – The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is proud to announce its newly established scholarship fund, the Festa Italiana Scholarship.

The scholarship was created in honor of the beloved and generous former pastor of St. Ann’s Church, Father Reverend Augustine Henry Giusani. Giusani was the founder and member of the Board of Directors of the New Britain Police Athletic League, which led to his appointment as a delegate to the White House Conference on Children and Youth. He was also a past chaplain of the New Britain Police Department and was inducted into the New Britain Hall of Fame. After he retired, he continued in active ministry until his passing in March 2008. He is remembered as a caring and loving person who was devoted to his parishioners and the Priesthood.

The Festa Italiana committee helps bring together the local Italian-American community to celebrate its heritage and culture at the Festa Italiana event. The annual event includes a procession from St. Ann Church, a bocce tournament, and wine tasting. Vendors are invited to the city to share Italian food, art, and music in order to celebrate the diverse multicultural population of New Britain. This year, the event will be held on Sunday, September 25.

The committee decided that in addition to the annual Festa Italiana event, they wanted to create another way to give back to the community that Father Giusani loved and adored. They contacted the Foundation with their idea, and the scholarship was established.

Each year, there will be two awards given from the fund: The Reverend Father Augustine Henry Giusani Humanitarian Award, for students from Hartford County who plan to major in social sciences, and the Reverend Father Augustine Henry Giusani Math and Sciences Award, for students from Hartford County who plan to major in math, science, or engineering.

Students who apply for the scholarship will be graduating seniors or current college students residing in Hartford County who plan to major in a Math or Science (for Math & Science Scholarship) or a Social Science (Humanitarian Scholarship). Preference will be given to individuals of Italian descent or to candidates who are members, in good standing, of their high school Italian club, or junior members with family membership of an Italian organization in CT. Equal preference will be placed on academic ability and financial need.

If you would like to apply for the Festa Italiana Scholarship, please visit: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfgnbscholarship and complete your application by June 15.
If you would like to make a gift to the Festa Italiana Scholarship Fund, you can send a check payable to CFGNB to 74 Vine Street, New Britain, CT 06052 with “Festa” in the memo line, or you can make a gift online at www.cfgnb.org/festa-italiana-scholarship.

If you have any questions regarding the Festa Italiana Scholarship, please contact Candice Tabone at ctabone@cfgnb.org.

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington and is your destination for establishing a scholarship or charitable fund in your community. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, responsibly manage permanent charitable assets, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership.